Teen has guardian angel but no love for the New Orleans Saints

October 08, 2013|By Kevin M. Coyne, Special to the Tribune

Nicholas Theilgaard, 16, received life-saving CPR from Advocate Children’s Hospital nurse practitioner, Sarah Kane, shown, and her fiancé, a local physician, at an Orland Park restaurant. On Sunday, Theilgaard was able to take Soldier Field to help avail the Chicago Bears 4th Phase Flag, which is to represent fan support. (Handout, Advocate Children’s Hospital)

Sixteen-year-old Nicholas Theilgaard had a guardian angel on his shoulders when a fast-acting nurse and her fiancé performed lifesaving CPR when the Midlothian high school student collapsed of a heart condition in an Orland Park restaurant.

In light of his dramatic recovery, Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn invited Theilgaard and one of his parents to take the field during Sunday's Chicago Bears game against the New Orleans Saints to help the Bears unfold the massive 4th Phase Flag.

"Nicholas was so excited when he found out since he can't play sports and loves both the Bears and football," said his mother Diane Theilgaard. "It's just remarkable what the hospital is doing."

Advocate Children's has a special partnership with the Bears organization that allows the hospital to provide patients with such a rare opportunity.

"Since Nicholas is a huge football fan and can't play [football] because of his heart condition, we thought it would be great for him to participate in the pre-game ceremony," said Advocate spokeswoman Julie Nakis.

Theilgaard was a multi-sport athlete, playing both football and baseball, until the diagnosis in July. Due to his rare heart condition, Theilgaard is unable to compete in the sports he once enjoyed.

"Nicholas suffers from arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. The disorder causes heart muscle to slowly change into fatty tissue and to scar, forcing the heart to pump less efficiently and making it prone to abnormal rhythms," said Dr. Ira Shetty, Theilgaard's attending pediatric cardiologist.

The lifesaving CPR was performed by Sarah Kane, a nurse practitioner in pediatric heart surgery at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn and her fiancée, a local physician.

"Due to the immediate and effective treatment from Kane, her fiancée and paramedics, Theilgaard's heartbeat and pulse returned, and he was stabilized at a nearby hospital before being transferred to the pediatric surgical heart unit at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn," Nakis said.

The couple just happened to be dining at the same Orland Park restaurant as the Theilgaard family in July when Theilgaard suddenly collapsed. Both Kane and her fiancé sprang into action and helped to revive Theilgaard along with local paramedics.

"He was gone when they ran over," Diane Theilgaard said. "They worked on him for 10 minutes and they brought him back twice."

Theilgaard is steadily recovering and acclimating to his new lifestyle. Although his heart condition is untreatable and prevents any sort of competitive sports, Theilgaard is still an avid sports fan and was honored to take Soldier Field during Sunday's Bears game.

"The changes have been rough for Nicholas, but he still likes football a lot and is excited to be part of the pre-game ceremony," Theilgaard said. "This is a great opportunity for him and we are so grateful that the hospital is doing this for him."